Face guard for football helmet



July 7, 1964 c HUMPHREY 3,139,624

FACE GUARD FOR FOOTBALL HELMET Filed March 18, 1963 INVENTOR. DELBY C.HUMPHREY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,139,624 FACE GUARD FORFOOTBALL HELMET Delby C. Humphrey, 700 Indiana Ave., Terre Haute, Ind.Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,873 14 Claims. (Cl. 2 -9 Thisinvention relates to athletic equipment and is particularly concernedwith an improved and novel combination of a football helmet and a facemask therefor and a mounting arrangement for the face guard. The presentapplication is a continuation in part of my c0- pending applicationSerial No. 244,760 filed December 14, 1962 and now abandoned.

In connection with football helmets, face masks are, of course, used atall times. These face masks can comprise plastic members, such as nylon,but a preferred face mask presently is constructed of steel tubing witha resilient rubber-like covering thereon. These face masks arerelatively stiff and give added protection in that they will deform ifextremely heavy loaded instead of springing to the degree that theplastic face masks do under the same circumstances.

In the interests of increased safety, face masks have grown to be ratherlarge in size and, on account of this, certain hazards have beenintroduced along with the added safety that the guard affords. Aparticular hazard is that the face mask forms a ready hand hold, and ithas been the case that players have been severely injured by an opponentgrasping the face mask and pulling on the face mask so that the helmetrotates about the chin strap, or the back edge presses into the back ofthe players neck.

This can be fatal if the face mask is pulled with enough strength.

Still further, a helmet with a full face mask thereon of the typereferred to can be difiicult to put on and remove on account of thelimited opening that is provided between the face mask and the helmetunless the face mask is made so that it projects outwardly a substantialdistance from the front of the helmet.

The difliculty of puting helmets on and removing them sometimes leadsplayers to helmets that are too large because it is easier to put on,and this can be exeremely dangerous on account of the loose fit thatresults, permitting the helmet to turn and to be defective forprotecting the player. This is particularly the case with face masksmade of rubber-covered steel tubing because these masks are stiff anddetract materially from the resilience of the helmet, and it is not easyto take a helmet of the right size having a rigid face mask thereto andspring the helmet outwardly to permit it to be put on easily when it isa good fit.

Face masks of the nature referred to are customarily rigidly fastened tohelmets and, because of this rigid fastening, any shock to the mask istransmitted directly to the helmet. Such shocks are usually wellcushioned from the players head by the internal cushioning of thehelmet, but such shocks can cause the helmet material to break.

In connection with the rigid fastening of face masks to helmets, thepossibility of the helmet breaking is an extreme hazard so that thetendency has been to employ a resilient face mask with the idea ofprotecting the helmet against breakage with the result that imperfectprotection of the player results.

While the foregoing remarks are particularly pertinent to the rubbercovered metal tubing face masks, it will be understood that they alsoapply to plastic face masks and that the present invention is usefulwith a face mask of either material.

While I have found the swing out feature of the face 3,139,624 PatentedJuly 7, 1964 masks to be extremely important, both in connection withthe fitting of a helmet and in connection with the safety of the helmetin avoiding whiplash injuries, I have also found certain drawbacks withhaving a face mask freely swingable on a helmet. While in normal use thefree swinging face mask is a distinct advantage over a face mask fixedlyconnected to the helmet, some possibility exists that a player couldfall on a mask swung outwardly from the helmet, and in this way, sustainsome injury. Still further with the free swinging mask, the possibilityis present that the mask could be swung up and the player wearing themask could receive injury by accident from another player during play.Still further, if a free swinging mask of the nature referred to isunlatched from the helmet at the sides and the conditions of the gamerequire the player to be running, the free swinging mask will tend toflop around and this could form somewhat of a hazard to the runner.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary objective of the present inventionis the provision of an arrangement for mounting a face mask on afootball helmet which avoids the drawbacks and hazards that have beenencountered with face masks according to the prior art.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a relativelyinexpensive arrangement for mounting face masks on football helmets.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a face maskmounted on a football helmet which will reduce shock transmite'd to thehelmet and which will prevent the helmet from being rocked backwardly ona players head by grasping the face mask.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improvedcombination of a football helmet and a face mask having advantages withrespect to safety and as to ease of putting the helmet on and taking itoff.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of afootball mask which is swingably connected with the football helmet sothat it can be moved outwardly from its operative position in order toobtain the advantages of minimizing the possibility of whiplash injuries and the like, but wherein the mask is baised toward the helmetthereby to prevent the mask from flopping about or swinging outwardly ifthe player falls and forming a hazard.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent upon reference to the following specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a football helmet and a face maskand mounting for the face mask according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View showing a latch or retainer membercarried by the helmet for releasably retaining the face mask thereon;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view indicated by line 33 on FIGURE 1 showingthe latch or retainer member of FIGURE 2 in plan;

FIGURE 4 is a view looking up from beneath one of the latch membersshowing a pocket formed therein that receives a portion of the facemask;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view indicated by line 5-5 on FIGURE 1 showingthe construction of one of the supporting clips for the top of the mask;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing a preferred manner of providingresilient means on the helmet for biasing the face mask for closed oroperative position;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view indicated by line 7-7 on FIGURE 6;and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but partly in section showing amodified structure.

'3 Q) General Arrangement The present invention comprises, generally, asubstantial conventional football helmet and a face mask which may besubstantially conventional with respect to the manner in which itprotects the face area of the player wearing the helmet. Instead ofrigidly mounting the face mask on the helmet, however, the face mask,according to the present invention, is pivotally secured to the front ofthe helmet while, at the sides of the helmet and, located downwardlyfrom the aforementioned pivotal connection are releasable latch elementsthat engage the sides of the face mask.

The face mask can be snapped out of the latch elements with a forciblepull thereon and will snap into the latch elements fairly easily.Preferably, the latch elements are a resilient rubber-like material forshock absorbing purposes and also because such material is not subjectto breakage from the relatively severe use to which it will besubjected.

According to the present invention, the helmet is provided with spacedstrap means 39 secured to the helmet as by the screws 32 and pivotallyengaging the upper bar means 26. This will permit the face mask to beswung outwardly from the helmet about a substantially horizontal axispassing through the pivot centers provided by the straps 30.

For retaining the face mask in an operative position, the helmet isprovided with a detent or latch member 34 on each side of the helmet andcarried by the dependent portions 12. These detents or latch members arefixed to the helmet as by the screws 36.

The detent or latch members are more clearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 or3 wherein it will be seen that each comprise a base portion 38 restingon the side of the helmet and which base portion toward the bottom isprovided with a notched region 40 for receiving the end of the barportion 28 and the rearmost part of the bar means 22 and which extendsrearwardly beyond the circumferential bar means 24 and also beyondportion 28 of bar means 26.

The notched region 40, which will be particularly noted in FIGURE 4,forms a pocket 43 for receiving the extreme end portion of thepertaining horizontal bar means 22. This pocket serves to join the maskwith the helmet so that they do not tend to become disconnected upon theapplication of transverse pulls or loads to the helmet or the face mask.

Substantially the only way in which the mask can be dislodged from theother members is by a straight pull or an upward blow. The pull would beby way of grasping the mask and the blow could be, for example, by wayof an arm or a knee. It will be appreciated that the latch elementswould be free of sharp corners or edges for the sake of safety.

Each detent or latch member is also provided with a vertically extendingnotch 42 for receiving the turned down end parts 28 of the lateral barmeans 26. Notches 42 may have a slight inclination on their forward sideas will best be seen at 44 in FIGURE 3 and the front side of each latchmember has a less steep incline 46 or even no incline at all. Thearrangement is such that the face mask, if pivoted forwardly from thehelmet, can be pushed downwardly toward the helmet and the portions 28will snap relatively easily into notches 4-2 by riding up the inclinedsurfaces 46 at the forward ends of the detent or latch members. The facemask material is relatively stiff, but inclines 46 are so shaped that itwill not require a great force to push the face mask into latchingposition.

With the face mask in latched position, however, a considerably greaterforce is required to dislodge portions 28 from the notches 42. Thiscomes about on account of the steepness of the surfaces 44, so that,once the face mask is pushed down into latched position, there is nopossibility that it will become accidentally unlatched.

The force required to unlatch the face mask from the detents or latchmembers, however, is small enough that, if the face mask is grasped andpulled by another player, or is accidentally forced in a direction awayfrom the helmet, the face mask will snap free from the detents or latchmembers before the face mask will bend, and in particular, before thehelmet will rock backwardly and impose any dangerous pressure on theback of the players neck that is wearing the helmet.

The player can always easily release the face mask by grasping it andpulling straight outwardly in the bottom edge thereof.

It is contemplated that the members 34 will be made of a firm butsomewhat resilient rubber-like material because this will not onlyabsorb shocks but will also withstand breakage. It is conceivable,however, that the members 34 could be formed of a relatively hardplastic such as nylon, or could even be formed of metal. In any case,the particular advantages of the present invention will obtain, namely,that the face mask is pivotable outwardly from the helmet in response toa pre-determined and substantial thrust thereon.

According to the present invention, the upper transverse bar 26 of theface mask is provided with an upwardly outwardly formed portion 50 whichis availed of for establishing a bias resiliently urging the face masktoward latched position. This comes about by clamping beneath the spacedpivot strap means 3%) a resilient pad of rubber-like material indicatedat 52. This pad or block of rubber-like material has a projection 54, aswill best be seen in FIGURES 6 and 7 and which forms a resilientabutment against-which the protruding portion 50 of the top bar 26 ofthe face mask abuts. The arrangement is such that the protruding portion59 either abuts projection 54 when the face mask is latched closed inoperative position or, positioned quite close to projection 4; so thatabutment by the projection 50 will occur substantially simultaneouslywith the unlatching of the face mask from the helmet. What occurs isthat the face mask is biased toward its closed position so that it doesnot swing freely completely outwardly from the face mask. Thiseliminates the possibility that the face mask will swing outwardly andbe in this forwardly projection position when the player may, for somereason, fall on the ground. However, the resiliency of projection 54permits a face mask to swing out a substantially distance from thehelmet when it is pulled outwardly, and this will avoid the danger ofwhat is referred to above as a whiplash injury and which has beensustained many times in the past by players wearing helmets havingrigidly attached face masks. It is felt that if the mask can swing outon the order of about 30 or so that even encountering the exceptions ofthe present invention will be achieved. This will prevent whiplashinjuries and will protect the helmet from breakage and will also retainthe advantage of the swinging mask in that the head gear is more easy toput on and take off, and can thus be fitted more accurately to theindividual playing football.

It will further be understood that the resilient member 52 disposedbetween the top bar 26 of the face mask and the body of the helmet willtend to protect the helmet against shocks imposed on the face mask andthis will, in turn, reduce breakage and reduce the shock of such animpact to the player wearing the helmet.

The resilience in the block also has a protective effect on the pivotstraps 30, which have considerably less tendency to break off in view ofthe resilience provided hehind the face mask.

By resiliently biasing the face mask toward its closed position, it ispossible for the mask to become unlatched during play, but the playercan still run freely with the unlatched mask Without it bobbing andswinging around as was referred to earlier in the specification.

FIGURE 8 shows a modification in which the face mask or guard 6% has thebars at the back that engage the latch member 62.v so arranged that theycome together substantially at right angles with no raised projectionrequiring a pocket such as the pocket 43 in FIGURE 3. Instead there ismerely a groove 64 formed in the latch member for receiving the bars ofthe face mask or guard. FIGURE 8 also illustrates that the back abutmentportion 66 of the latch member is increased substantially in height soas to form a firm abutment for the face guard that will assist inabsorbing shocks and will prevent the face guard from being disengagedfrom the latch even if struck with a severe blow.

The latch member of FIGURE 8, of course, comprises the approach ramp 63to assist in snapping the face guard into engagement with the latch.

It will be appreciated that while the resilient pad or block arrangementas disclosed has advantages in connection with shock absorption andsimple and low in cost, another means could be provided by pivotallysupporting the face mask on the helmet and for biasing it toward closedposition. Such means would occur to those skilled in the art and couldtake the form of spring devices of another nature, for example, springdevices embodied in the pivot straps or disposed between the face maskand the helmet. It will therefore be appreciated that the broad conceptof the present invention includes, primarily, the physical support ofthe face mask on the helmet, particularly where the support is disposedat the top of the face mask, and secondly, the resilient biasing of theface mask on the helmet toward its closed or latched position thereon.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; andaccordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask for thehelmet, means pivotally connecting the face mask to the helmet at thetop of the helmet in front on a transverse horizontal axis so that facemask can be swung in a vertical plane about said axis between operativeand inoperative positions on the helmet, said face mask includingportions which extend along and embrace the sides of the helmet asubstantial distance below the top of the helmet when the face mask isin operative position, and means mounted on the sides of the helmet atthe level thereof embraced by said portion of the mask having means todetachably engage said portions and abutment means to abuttingly engagesaid portions for positively halting the face mask on said helmet insaid operative position thereon when the face mask is moved frominoperative position into operative position to prevent movement of theface mask beyond said operative position and for releasably retainingthe face mask in said operative position to prevent accidental movementof the face mask from said operative position to inoperative position.

2. In combination; a face mask for a football helmet comprising a stiifgrid-like member having an upper transverse bar, pivot means forengagement with said transverse bar of said face mask and adapted forbeing attached to the helmet in front at the top for the pivotalconnection of the mask to a helmet, and latch means engageable with thesides of said face mask below the top thereof and adapted for beingattached to the sides of a helmet to provide for releasable latchingengagement of the mask with the sides of a helmet.

3. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask for thehelmet, means pivotally connecting the face mask to the helmet at thetop of the helmet in front on a transverse horizontal axis so the facemask can be swung in a vertical plane about said axis between operativeand inoperative positions, said face mask including portions at thesides spaced downwardly from said axis which extend along and embracethe sides of the helmet when the face mask is in operativeposition,cooperating elements of abutment means on the helmet and on saidportions of face mask operable for engaging each other for positivelyhalting the face mask in said operative position when the face mask ismoved from inoperative position into operative position, cooperatingelements of detent means on the helmet and on said portions of said facemask engageable when the mask is in operative position and operable forreleasably holding the face mask in operative position on the helmet,and means acting between the mask and the helmet resiliently biasing themask toward operative position on the helmet.

4. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, means pivotallyconnecting the face mask to the helmet at the top of the helmet in fronton a transverse horizontal axis so the face mask can be swung in avertical plane about said axis between operative and inoperativepositions, said face mask including portions at the sides spaceddownwardly from said axis which extend closely along the sides of thehelmet when the face mask is in operative position, and latch elementson the opposite sides of the helmet positioned thereon for receivingsaid portions, of the face mask and operable for latching the face maskin said operative position, said latch elements including abutment meanspositioned for abuttingly engaging said portions for positively stoppingand supporting the face mask in said operative position, said latchelements also including recess means vertically extending openingoutwardly from the helmet to receive said portions for efifecting thesaid latching of the face mask in operative position, said latchelements including inclined approaches on the front side leading to saidrecess means to permit easy movement of the said portions into saidrecess means, at least one of said helmet and mask being yieldable topermit said portions to ride up said inclines to said recess means.

5. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, means pivotallyconnecting the face mask to the helmet at the top of the helmet in fronton a transverse horizontal axis so the face mask can be swung in avertical plane about said axis between operative and inoperativepositions, said face mask including portions at the sides spaceddownwardly from said axis which extend closely along the sides of thehelmet when the face mask is in operative position, latch elements onthe opposite sides of the helmet for releasably receiving said portionsof the face mask for latching the face mask in said operative position,said latch elements including abutment means positioned for abuttinglyengaging said portions for positively stopping and supporting the facemask in said operative position, said latch elements also includingrecess means opening outwardly from the helmet and positioned to receivesaid portions when the mask is in operative position for effecting thesaid latching of the face mask in operative position, said latchelements including inclined approaches on the front sides leading tosaid recess means to permit easy movement of the said portions into saidrecess means, and means acting between the mask and the helmetcontinuously resiliently biasing the mask toward operative position onthe helmet.

6. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, pivot member means on thehelmet pivotally connecting the top edge of the face mask to the upperfront of the helmet on a transverse axis so the face mask will swingfrom an operative position adjacent the helmet outwardly away from thehelmet, said bars including portions spaced downwardly from saidhorizontal axis which extend backwardly closely along the sides of thehelmet when the face mask is in operative position, a latch element oneach side of the helmet positioned to engage said portions and eachhaving an outwardly opening reareaszs cess therein to receive theadjacent said bar portion, an inclined approach to each recess on thefront side of each latch element so the respective bar portions will cameasily into the respective recess, and a forwardly facing abutmentsurface on each latch element for abutment by the respective said barportion when the face mask is moved into operative position.

7. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, pivot member means on thehelmet pivotally connecting the top edge of the face mask to the upperfront of the helmet on a transverse axis so the face mask will swingfrom an operative position adjacent the helmet outwardly away from thehelmet, said bars including portions which extend backwardly along thesides of the helmet when the face mask is in operative position, a latchelement on each side of the helmet having an outwardly opening recesstherein to receive the adjacent said bar portion, an inclined approachto each recess so the respective bar portions will cam easily into therecess, and an abutment surface on each latch element for abutment bythe respective said bar portion when the face mask is moved intooperative position, said bars having a rubber-like covering and saidpivot member means comprising strap-like means enclosing the top bar ofthe mask and having ridge means biting into the said covering to preventlateral movement of the mask therein.

8. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, pivot member means on thehelmet pivotally connecting the top edge of the face mask to the upperfront of the helmet on a transverse axis so the face mask will swingfrom an operative position adjacent the helmet outwardly away from thehelmet, said bars including portions which extend backwardly along thesides of the helmet when the face mask is in operative position, a latchelement on each side of the helmet having an outwardly opening recesstherein to receive the adjacent said portion, an inclined approach toeach recess so the respective portions will cam easily into the recessan abutment surface on each latch element for abutment by the respectivesaid portion when the face mask is moved into operative position, saidbars having a rubber-like covering and said pivot member meanscomprising straplike means enclosing the top bar of the mask and havingridge means biting into the said covering to prevent lateral movement ofthe mask therein, and means acting between the mask and the helmetresiliently biasing the mask toward operative position on the helmet.

9. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, at least one pivot memberon the helmet pivotally connecting the top edge of the face mask to theupper front of the helmet on a transverse axis so the face mask willswing from an operative position adjacent the helmet outwardly away fromthe helmet, said bars including portions which extend backwardly alongthe sides of the helmet when the face mask is in operative position, alatch element on each side of the helmet having an outwardly openingrecess therein to receive the adjacent said portion, an inclinedapproach to each recess so the respective portions will cam easily intothe recess, and an abutment surface on each latch element for abutmentby the respective said portion when the face mask is moved intooperative position, said bars in the region of the latch membersincluding substantially vertical bars receivable in said recesses andhorizontal bars extending rearwardly from the vertical bars, and pocketsin said latch members receiving the end parts of said horizontal bars.

10. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, at least one pivot memberon the helmet pivotally connecting the top edge of the face mask to theupper front of the helmet on a transverse axis so the face mask willswing from an operative position adjacent the helmet outwardly away fromthe helmet, said bars including portions which extend backwardly alongthe sides of the helmet when the face mask is in operative position, alatch element on each side of the helmet having an outwardly openingrecess therein to receive the adjacent said portion, an inclinedapproach to each recess so the respective portions will cam easily intothe recess, an abutment surface on each latch element for abutment bythe respective said portion when the face mask is moved into operativeposition, said bars in the region of the latch members includingsubstantially vertical bars receivable in said recesses and horizontalbars extending rearwardly from the vertical bars, and pockets in saidlatch members receiving the end parts of said horizontal bars, and meansacting between the mask and the helmet resiliently biasing the masktoward operative position on the helmet.

11. In combination; a football helmet, a grid-like face mask comprisinginterconnected bars forming a stiff structure, pivot member means on thehelmet pivotally connecting the top edge of the face mask to the upperfront of the helmet on a transverse axis so the face mask will swingfrom an operative position adjacent the helmet outwardly away from thehelmet, said bars including portions spaced downwardly from saidhorizontal axis which extend backwardly closely along the sides of thehelmet when the face mask is in operative position, a latch element oneach side of the helmet positioned to engage said portions and eachhaving an outwardly opening recess therein to receive the adjacent saidbar portion, an inclined approach to each recess on the front side ofeach latch element so the respective bar portions Will cam easily intothe respective recess, and a forwardly facing abutment surface on eachlatch element for abutment by the respective said bar portion when theface mask is moved into operative position, said latch elementscomprising a rubber-like resilient material for absorbing shocks.

12. In combination; a football helmet, a face mask for the helmet, saidmask including transversely extending bar means at the top, meansattached to the helmet in the front at the top engaging said bar meansfor pivotally securing the mask to the helmet, cooperating elements oflatch means on the helmet at the sides thereof and on the face mask forreleasably latching the face mask to the helmet in operative positionthereon, said transverse bar means comprising a portion formed upwardlyand outwardly therefrom when the face mask is in operative position, anda resilient block on the helmet beneath said portion so that the blockwill be compressed when the mask is swung outwardly to bias the masktoward closed position.

13. In combination; a football helmet, a face mask for the helmet, saidmask including transversely extending bar means at the top, meansattached to the helmet in the front at the top engaging said bar meansfor pivotally securing the mask to the helmet, cooperating elements oflatch means on the helmet at the sides thereof and on the face mask forreleasably latching the face mask to the helmet in operative positionthereon, said transverse bar means comprising a portion formed upwardlyand outwardly therefrom when the face mask is in operative position, anda resilient block on the helmet beneath sald portion so that the blockwill be compressed when the mask is swung outwardly to bias the masktoward closed position, said resilient block comprising laterallyextending portions disposed between the said bar of the face mask andthe helmet so as to provide a resilient cushion for absorbing shocks.

14. In combination; a football helmet, a face mask for the helmet havingan upper transverse far extending across the front of the helmet, pivotmembers attached to the helmet and engaging said top bar of the mask forconmeeting the mask to the helmet for swinging movement of the mask in avertical plane, cooperating elements of a releasable latch means carriedon the sides of the helmet and formed on the face mask for releasablyretaining the face mask in operative position on the helmet, a pad ofresilient material on the front of the helmet and beneath said pivotmembers, said bar of the face mask having an upwardly and outwardlyextending portion thereon between said pivot members and said resilientpad having a projection thereon adapted for engagement by said upwardlyand outwardly extending portions when 10 the mask is swung outwardlyfrom outward position whereby the mask is biased toward operativeposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS817,075 Lavis Apr. 3, 1906 1,022,575 Beehler Apr. 9, 1912 2,890,457Marietta June 16, 1959 2,892,195 Monetta June 30, 1959 2,918,060 LobelleDec. 22, 1959 2,929,070 Novak Mar. 22, 1960

1. IN COMBINATION; A FOOTBALL HELMET, A GRID-LIKE FACE MASK FOR THEHELMET, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE FACE MASK TO THE HELMET AT THETOP OF THE HELMET IN FRONT ON A TRANSVERSE HORIZONTAL AXIS SO THAT FACEMASK CAN BE SWUNG IN A VERTICAL PLANE ABOUT SAID AXIS BETWEEN OPERATIVEAND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS ON THE HELMET, SAID FACE MASK INCLUDINGPORTIONS WHICH EXTEND ALONG AND EMBRACE THE SIDES OF THE HELMET ASUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BELOW THE TOP OF THE HELMET WHEN THE FACE MASK ISIN OPERATIVE POSITION, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SIDES OF THE HELMET ATTHE LEVEL THEREOF EMBRACED BY SAID PORTION OF THE MASK HAVING MEANS TODETACHABLY ENGAGE SAID PORTIONS AND ABUTMENT MEANS TO ABUTTINGLY ENGAGESAID PORTIONS FOR POSITIVELY HALTING THE FACE MASK ON SAID HELMET INSAID OPERATIVE POSITION THEREON WHEN THE FACE MASK IS MOVED FROMINOPERATIVE POSITION INTO OPERATIVE POSITION TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THEFACE MASK BEYOND SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AND FOR RELEASABLY RETAININGTHE FACE MASK IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENTOF THE FACE MASK FROM SAID OPERATIVE POSITION TO INOPERATIVE POSITION.